Dumaguete City — Seven persons have died in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental while scores of others were hospitalized over a diarrhea outbreak, as an aftermath of the rains caused by Typhoon "Frank."Water-borne bacteria that got into drinking water supply triggered the outbreak of diarrhea in the city, 116 km north of Dumaguete City, according to Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes. Reyes said up to eight of his barangays have been severely affected. The city has 33 barangays. The affected areas are mostly in the coastal areas, where people have their own water wells, the mayor said. Reyes blamed the diarrhea outbreak on the heavy rains that fell over northern Negros Island recently. "We've seen this before. It happens every now and then especially during the rainy season, where typhoid and other water-borne diseases are present," he said. Water from the city's water district tested positive for contamination and health workers are targeting their educational campaign on open water wells. The mayor ruled out the possibility of declaring a state of calamity in the city, saying the danger has subsided. "Last week, a lot of people were hospitalized but the situation is under control now," Reyes told the Inquirer in a telephone interview. The Department of Health (DOH) has sent personnel from their regional office to Guihulngan in response to the appeal for help by the city government. They are testing the city's water sources like rivers, springs, and water wells for disease-causing bacteria. The diarrhea outbreak, however, is not only confined to Guihulngan but also in the neighboring city of Canlaon and the towns of Vallerhermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud and Tayasan, Reyes said. "Now, we have contained it and we're doing everything we can. We buy Oresol (oral rehydration solutions), dextrose, and all the necessary things," Reyes said.
The city has also embarked on an information drive to inform the people of the need to boil their water before drinking. Reyes said the biggest obstacle is that people say boiled water loses its flavor. "I let them choose between flavorless boiled water or disease-causing flavored water," the mayor said. INQUIRER | 
